(written for the members of Maggie's Rock, posted here for everyone else. This was written, litterally, by more than 15 people. I just organized it)
Jericho stopped at the corner of the intersecting hallways and counted to 5 before reaching out and catching the child who ran into his arms without looking. He spun her around to bleed off speed before he could stop her. Little Jennie was a speeder, but she didnt always think as fast as her feet could run. If Jericho hadnt caught her, she would have run head first into the large piece of equipment moving up the hallway behind him.
Slow down around the corners Jen, or youre going to get hurt. Jericho warned her, already knowing her answer and knowing it would be pointless to warn her. She wasnt going to slow down and she was going to get hurt.
SorryIllslowdown she blurted out and ran off down the hall slightly slower than before. Jericho just shook his head as he watched go. She wouldnt change since she liked to go fast, just like her mom, who hadnt changed and still ran faster than Jericho could ever hope to.
He motioned for the maintenance crew to follow him. They pushed the large cart forward slowly, not wanting it to topple. The object wasnt particularly heavy, just awkward in its shape and size.
Maxs son Charlie had built it for the school. It was a gadget that would help keep track of strangers and students on the grounds of Maggies Rock. From what Jericho understood of it, it kept track of the bioelectrical signatures of people and store them. As new people came onto the grounds they would be scanned and tracked. New students would have their bio sigs registered in the system. Everyone on the grounds could be tracked and monitored. Any stranger who entered would be almost instantly noticed and checked against the database, resulting in an alert or alarm, depending on the location of the intruder and if they were already in the database.
Jericho mentally shrugged. He didnt mind the device, but he just didnt always trust or understand it. Then he grinned to himself. Hed heard the same about his magic on more than one occasion. He motioned the workers to put it in place. He didnt see any more problems with its installation that he would be needed for, so he climbed out of the basement and started heading home to get ready for tonight.
He could hear a group of the younger children walking down the hall chanting Spikey Doom, Kill Skuls, Spikey Doom, Kill Skuls. Sarah must have been bringing a group in from a field trip. From their chanting, hed say they had gone to Perez Park. When John Stark had left to spend more time with his family, Sarah had taken over leading field trips. Negotiating by way of superior strength was what she called her class.
The thought of John made Jericho frown. He felt sorry for the hand fortune had dealt John Stark. John had found a wife who had made him deliriously happy, and started a family with her. After their first two kids though, things went bad for John. When his wife had been caught in the crossfire between a group of Council soldiers and Nemesis bots John had gone off the deep end. First he had gone on a rampage destroying every Nemesis and Council base he could find. The Paragon Times had run articles on the destruction.
Maggie had tried to help John then, but nothing would stop him. He did give his kids over to Maggie to care for and raise, then he went back on his vengeance spree. Eventually he had fallen into the bottle, and spent his time drinking and picking fights and lashing out at people. Maggie again went to help him, with the aid of Jessie and Tess. No one had ever said what it was they did to help John, but he did drag himself back to sobriety. He never was the same though. He became harder, more driven. He visited his kids at the Rock, but most of the time he spent working on cases no one else would take. To most it looked as if he was trying to find case that would kill him. The last Jericho had heard, he still hadnt.
He heard a shout down the hall. One of the new guards was running to catch up to him. Garret, Jericho recalled his name as he stopped in front of him and saluted. He was young, gung ho, and a bit naive.
Sir? Smudge has locked himself in his room. We cant get in to him, and he wont come out.
Smudge was one of the Dyne babies, third generation. More intelligent, but also tougher. Smudge had lived among some of the last of the Hollows troll tribes before the big fill. He had been sent to Maggies Rock to see if they could help him. First they had to make him understand who was boss. Having lived among the Trolls, and also studying them while getting his degree, Jer knew what approach to use.
Call Kyri. Tell her to make Smudge understand he is not the strongest around. She can smash his door, but dont break the doorjamb. Doors are easy to replace, doorjambs are harder and cost more. Especially the reinforced set up we had to put on his.
Garret had a look of incomprehension on his face. Kyri Sir? The cute girl with the tail? Smudge will tear her apart.
Jericho laughed. Garret, that cute girl is older than you, stronger than me, and is tough enough to take a hit that would break your car in half. Did you think she worked as my secretary or something? Garrets silence answered louder than any word could. Jericho sighed. Kyri is a sister to me. There are few people Id rather have backing me up in a fight. Not to mention, its funny watching her destroy things. No one expects it from her until she does. Smudge will be embarrassed by such a display, which is the idea. He knows Kyri is my second. What he really wants is to take me on. I dont intend to give him the chance. Kyri will wake him up to the fact he is not as tough as he thinks. Then maybe these little displays will stop, and he can begin learning something here
Garret just nodded. Jericho was about to send him to get Kyri when he had a premonition. He told Garret to get Kyri, have her deal with Smudge, and then to take the night off. He was a young handsome man, and it was getting nearer toward Kyris birthday. He had an idea that Kyri was going to teach the young man something, and it wasnt going to be applied magic. Report back tomorrow by 8 am. He thought again, No, make that 9 am, but not a minute later. Garret just nodded and started off to Kyris office, not understanding why his boss had given him the night off. He was going to learn soon though. Jericho shook his head as he watched the young man head back up the hall. He turned and walked off his own direction.
Jericho walked past the Alumni wall. Pictures of everyone who had grown up and left the Rock were posted here. He looked over familiar faces, the people who he considered his family. Jessies picture showed her standing in front of her clinic the day it opened. She had finally gotten her powers under control and now used them to help others in need. Next to it was a picture of Erik and Rowr, in front of his bike shop. It had been rebuilt and expanded several times. Jer had worked there a while during college. It was the only way he could afford to pay for his own bike back then. He still rode it whenever he could.
Off to the right and above was a picture with three people in it. Max and Kevin held up a piece of legislation they had gotten passed. Max as a lobbyist, and Kevin a congressman. Kevin also held his wife, Arai in the picture. They had several kids, all with varying fire abilities. It got pretty hot whenever they came back to visit, and extra extinguishers were kept on hand. Max and Kevin made a fairly effective team now, with Max working in the UN and being able to help bring international attention, and Kevin working from within the Congress, and pushing for changes there. Arai being one of the best looking women in DC didnt hurt Kevins standing with the lawmakers either.
To the left was another multiple person shot. Paw stood in scrubs and lab coat on the last day of her residency, finally a full doctor. Dr Paladin was there as well, behind her, as were Nick and Maggie. It was hard to tell who was the proudest in that picture. She had since gone on to become a rather well known neurosurgeon.
Other pictures caught Jerichos eye, making him pause for a moment more than he really had, but he was lost in memories.
First was Panda. Jericho had liked the large pandanian hero. His picture showed him during the last day he worked in the garden. He had gone back to the monks who had cared for him when he had been discarded by the Rikti as a failed experiment. The second picture was Ben Kirby. It was taken shortly before he went off to become a Star Magus. Everyone but Ben already knew how that ended, and Ben would have close to a hundred years before he would learn.
Eves photo always made Jericho wonder when she would show up. Hed seen her a few times, usually when she came to warn someone. The way their powers worked, they tended to cross paths. Eve usually would be giving some kind of cryptic guidance as Jericho came along to prevent a student from getting in over their head. Her photo showed her standing, her glowing blue eyes bright as she hugged Maggie goodbye. It was the last picture anyone had of her fully corporeal.
He hurried out onto the lawn and headed for his apartment in the school. The only warning he had was the image that flashed in his mind of him getting hit. He dropped to the ground and rolled left as he heard the impact of the first missile hit the wall in line with where his head would have been, the second was lower and would have caught him in the side, had he still been standing. He pushed himself up and jumped, causing the next two projectiles to hit the empty ground.
He turned and caught the next snowball and threw it back in Strains direction. It caught the last one being thrown by Strain in mid air and sent glittering shards of snow and ice skittering all over the grass and cement Strains face split into a wide grin as she gestured at Jericho.
You too Strain. One of these days youll get me. In all the times she had tried, the closest she had gotten was the time she had dragged him onto the dance floor in the pocket D and danced with him. Over the years it had become a game to see if she could surprise him. One day she would. Jer had seen it, but not yet. She still had taken to the challenge of trying and would ambush him with snowballs.
Strain worked for Maggies Rock, officially as an assistant to the directors. Jericho knew she worked more as a house detective, or intelligence gatherer. She was the one sent to find things out for Nick and Maggie when there was a threat to the school. She and Jericho had worked together on a few things, and made a good team. Strain not being able to talk when she used her own abilities, but Jericho knowing what was needed of him before anyone asked most of the time helped them work well together. Many times a threat to Maggie or anyone at Maggies Rock had found they were not as secure as they thought.
She made another series of gestures. Yes, well be there tonight. Id be getting changed now, if someone hadnt tried to brain me with a snowball. He grinned at Strain who returned it and waved as she headed to her own rooms. Jericho turned and stepped quickly to the apartment he shared with his family.
He opened the door to an almost empty house. He could hear noises from the bedroom, but only enough for one person. There was no sound of any kids anywhere. He walked back to the bedroom, and found Ames finishing her hair. She looked just as he had seen her, when he first began to see threads of the future. Beautiful, brown haired, blue eyed and still wearing glasses. His hand twitched to reach out and push them up, but he restrained himself.
He came up and kissed her on the neck as she was finishing getting ready. She wore a long purple gown that hung and clung in all the right ways. It should thought Jer. I paid Serge enough, and put up with listening to him going on about a purple suit to match it. He still hadnt gotten the suit. Even when purple was the in color, he had refused to wear one. He still liked it on Ames though.
Where are the kids? Jericho asked, as he worked his way around the back of her neck.
They are off swimming. Jack is watching all the children tonight, until bedtime. The older ones are in charge of the younger ones. She continued getting ready, trying to ignore his attentions. She finally reached up and pushed him away. You need to get ready too. Well be late if you dont she said, smiling and finally scrunching up her neck and rubbing it against her shoulders.
Jericho reluctantly went and showered to get dressed in a tux. He hated dressing up, but it was a special occasion. He thought about their life together over the years. Jer had known they would marry, just not exactly when. It had taken some time, and a lot of planning. Jers real parents and his background had made him terrified of weddings. Asking Ames was difficult for him. Every time he tried, he got tongue tied and couldnt get the words out. Everyone in the Rock had watched feeling terrible for him, even if only a few fully understood the reason for his fear. Ames had stayed with him, patiently waiting. She understood why, and had never pushed or pressured him about it. Finally others in the Rock had taken matters into their own hands.
Jer had been walking down a hall, when literally his family grabbed him and dragged him into a room. In it was everyone he and Ames had considered friends or family. She stood waiting near the front of the room holding a bouquet, with Sister Colette standing facing the room in her vestments, holding a book. Jericho looked at Ames, who shrugged. Im sorry Jericho. They grabbed me and told me wait here. They werent going to let me go until you showed up.
He had looked around the room and knew that his family was going to make sure he didnt run away. Um, I dont have her ring. He said, lamely.
Half a dozen women pulled off wedding bands, while Lynn caused more to appear out of thin air. Tess understood what he meant, and pulled out the ring Jericho had fashioned out of crystal. Thou didst leave this out on thy desk Jericho. I brought it knowing you wouldst need it this even. Jericho took it and hugged her as he said Thanks Mom. He and Ames were married immediately
Thinking about his wedding made him think about Lynn and Fletchers weddings. Fletcher and Lynn were currently on their honeymoon, again. It was their fourth or fifth one now. This one was the Lynn-being-officially-old-enough-to-marry-Fletcher-wedding, even though they had been married for years. They had had a ceremony, their third, and gone off to the Caribbean this time for their honeymoon. Every postcard they sent back seemed to coincide with a news event of some strange occurrences in that location, and then a hurricane would hit the island.
They had first gotten married when Nick had finally reached a point where the only argument he could come up with was No! Because I said so. He seemed to take the wedding better than most had thought he would. Jericho secretly thought it had, by that point, become more of a game for Nick and Lynn, but he had never bothered asking. As long as Lynn was still around to keep Nicks head from asploding, that was all that really mattered.
When he was done getting ready, he and Ames went out the front door, waving to the security personnel still on duty. Others from the Rock were also getting out at the same time. Various teachers who were able to go were getting into their vehicles and driving off in the direction of Baumton.
Jer looked at Ames in her dress and heels, and realized there was no way she was going to be able to run dressed like she was, so he picked her up and launched himself into the air.
Jericho flew them to the theater, and landed just up the street on the sidewalk. He carefully set Ames down and they straightened their clothes. Many people were walking past that they recognized. Roy Kirby with his wife Peggy holding possessively to his arm. Kris Angeles and his wife Lucy Jones, the photographer, also walked past. In an ironic twist, it was Lucy being shot by the paparazzi now. Lucy held onto Bayanis arm as the flashes went off, ducking her head slightly and blushing, not used to being on this side of the camera. Brian waved to them with Nadia on his arm as he moved toward the large doors into the theater.
They entered and were led to their seats. As they sat, they could see many others of their extended family also there. Students and teachers, past and present were here this night to show their support for Tessarae. Sitting, down in front, were Nick and Maggie. They had married, divorced, remarried, separated, and were reconciled again. Two people with strong wills who needed one another, but found it hard to give way. They almost seemed made for one another, until they butted heads. Also in front, sat Delphine. She and Tess had made a life for themselves together, and now she was here to support Tess again. She literally glowed with pride and love tonight, waiting for her partner to appear on stage.
Eventually the theater filled, and everyone hushed as the lights dimmed. Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing, starring Tessarae as Beatrice began.
The applause was deafening as the final curtain fell. Considering how strong half the audience was, it was not surprising. Heroid almost knocked the people in front of him flat with his applause. As the actors gave their bows, bouquets were run up to them. Tess was almost buried in the amount of flowers sent to her on stage.
Jericho and Ames left soon after. Everyone was trying to get to Tess, and while Jericho could likely have pushed his way through most of the people, there wasnt any need. They could talk to his moms tomorrow, when they were less distracted and did not have as many people trying to get Tess attention. Tonight was their night, and Tess was the center of attention for once.
Jer and Ames walked with their arms around one another. The night was perfect. Not too cold, not too warm, no clouds, and a bright moon. Jer picked Ames up and flew them home, sneaking a few kisses along the way. He made sure to keep one eye on where he was flying though. Years ago he had gotten a little too distracted while flying and almost crashed them into a cliff side. Ames still teased him about it.
When they finally got home, they went to check on their kids. Jenny was asleep, her blankets tangled up around her legs as she even dreamed of running. Jared lay in his room, closets and drawers locked so that his telepathy wouldnt fling things across the room while he slept. Finally indestructible Leslie, the oldest. She had fallen asleep in the living room, and Jer carried her to her own room. She could have slept anywhere, and not been bothered. As far as anyone could tell, short of nuclear detonation, nothing could hurt her physically. All had been adopted. Both Jericho and Ames were afraid to try and have any children of their own, for different reasons.
After making sure of the kids, they went to their own room. Jer slipped his arm around Amelia and hugged her from behind as he kissed her neck. He felt her shiver. She turned in his arms to face him, and put her hands on both sides of his face, pulling him down to her and kissing him. Jericho was all she said as he reached out and turned off the light.
Jericho
..Jericho. The voice didnt sound right. It wasnt Ames, it sounded more like
Miss Tess! Jers eyes shot open as he spoke the name. The idea she might have seen into his vision or mind just now made him redden. He found himself sitting on the couch in the common room in the Rock, in front of the TV. Ames was leaning against him, asleep with her head on his shoulder. He had fallen asleep with his head against hers. He then remembered he had not put up any wards in his mind before falling asleep. He had ended up following a potential thread of the future, instead of normal dreaming.
The memory of what he had seen and experienced in his vision flashed through his mind. Ames proximity and touch had likely influenced the thread he had followed. He did not have much experience in using his abilities this way, so it was all theory. He wondered if she had shared the vision with him. Their heads were touching, so he figured they had, but he didnt know. Hed have to ask her later.
He slowly raised his head and looked around. The room was dark and someone had shut down the TV and video equipment. Miss Tess stood before him, with a slight but unreadable smile on her face.
I was passing on my way to my own room, and did think it best if I awoke you and Amelia so that you might both retire to your own rooms, but I see that waking you shouldst be enough. If you would lift Amelia and carry her for me to her room,
she let the thought trail off as Jericho nodded.
He picked up Amelia and carried her to her room, setting her gently on her bed. With Miss Tess standing in the doorway, Jericho suppressed the urge to kiss Ames as he pulled the bedspread up to cover her with. He then made his own way to his room, slightly fuzzy headed from the vision, and sleep, now that the shock of Tessarae waking him up having worn off.
Tessarae watched Jericho walk to his own room. She hadnt lied to him. She had been on her way to her own rooms, and decided to wake the young couple, but only after feeling the intense emotions spilling from them. At first she thought she would be intruding on an embarrassing scene for all, but then realized it was an intense vision, strengthened by the fact two people were experiencing it together. She was quite content with not having had to interrupt or embarrass them.
Several parts of the vision she had caught, before she had to shut out the combined thoughts of the two teens, had intrigued her. She made a mental note to talk to the librarian, Mr. Parker, who was also the Shakespearean teacher. She would like to borrow his copy of Shakespeares plays and discuss them with him one comedy in particular.
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